acts would be null and void. For example, one can not seek approach with All?h ( - ) by standing on ‘Arafah or Muzdalifah and throwing the pebbles or going between Saf? and Marw? without indulging in a certain act of worship that takes place at a certain time and has its non causes and conditions [i.e. Hajj or ‘Umrah]. Similarly, one may not seek approach with All?h ( - ) by doing a single prostration though it is considered an act of worship when done in its proper time and has a proper Shar‘ cause. And seeking approach with All?h ( - ) may be not be done by doing Sal?t or Siy?m any time one whishes.

Indeed, those who are ignorant seek approach with All?h ( - ) through doing acts that move them away from All?h ( - ) while they know not’. (1)

To conclude, according to the Shar‘, one may seek approach with All?h ( - ) through prostration done only in Sal?t or done for a certain purpose such as the two prostrations of forgetfulness, the prostration of giving thanks to All?h ( - ) or when reciting Sajdah ?yah.

Both Im?m Al-Haramain Abul Ma‘?l? and Al-Gaz?l? and many others denied doing the two prostrations. Al-Gaz?l? even held that none of the ‘Ulamah believed that even a single prostration is incumbent on the one who vows to do it. Regarding this, two opinions were held, the first: one could perform one additional Rak‘ah in his Sal?t. The second: this vow is considered as a nonsense discourse. (2)

This Bid‘ah was born out from that which some S?fis believe in that every praying person is recommended to prostrate one prostration of forgetfulness to make up for the forgetfulness of the heart one would certainly fall in during one’s Sal?t. And since this forgetfulness is caused by Shait?n one must move him away strongly [i.e. through performing prostration]!!